Improvement in breast-cups



A. M. KNAPP. Breast Cups.

No, 141,005, Patentedl uly 22,1873.

WlTNESSES awe/1m. mm

\NVENFRI 2W FIG. 2

. r AM. PH OTU'L I TH 0 GRAPHIC C0. IV. )f( USBORNES PROCESS.)

is done in other breast-cups now in use.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT M. KNAPP, OF LOWELL, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT l N BREAST-CUPS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 141,005, dated July 22,1873; application filed December 26, 1872.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that T, ALBERT M. KNAPP, of Lowell, in the county ofMiddlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain Improvementsin Breast-Cups, of which the following is a specification:

The nature of my improvement consists in placing a piece of thinfreely-elastic India rubber between an ordinary vacuum-cup and thesurface of the breast over which the cup is placed to draw the milk,said piece of rubber to cover the breast within the boundary of the cup,excepting at the nipple and a few small points, hereafter shown anddescribed. The India rubber, possessing free elasticity andcontractibility, is constantly in close contact with the surface of thebreast, expanding and contracting as the breast is drawn into the cup byexhausting the air, and exerting a counterpressure gentle and uniformupon the breast, which assists considerably in the expulsion of themilk. The degree of power in the counterpressure is regulated by thethickness or resistance of the rubber. In my improvement I have combinedthe powers of suction and pressure in such a manner as to obtain thefull benefit of each in a more superior degree than In other cupspressure is accomplished by interposing ahard, unyielding concavesurface to the breast, which is more painful, especially if the breastbe in a state of inflammation, and less speedy and complete in theevacuation of the milk. Thepressure exerted by the arran gement of othercups is limited, inasmuch as the power which is necessary to draw thebreast to this unyielding surface is exhausted as soon as the breastcomes in contact with this surface of the cup. In my improvement thecompression of the breast increases in proportion as the breast is drawnmore completely into the cup, while the suction upon the nipple is alsogreater.

Figure 2 represents a circular piece of India rubber as constructed touse with an ordinary dry-cup.

A shows a slight and firm elevation from the surface of the piece ofIndia rubber, extending around the same upon all sides. Said elevationis used for the purpose of keeping said rubber in place and positionwhile the cup is in operation. B is a firm supporting-ring surroundingan orifice or opening in said piece of rubber, which receives andprotects the nipple. I) D are small holes in the rubber, through the useof which a closer and firmer contact is maintained between the piece ofrubber and the breast when the air is exhausted more or less from thecup in the act of operation.

Fig. 1 shows the relation and application of the invention to thebreast, in combination with the cup 0.

F shows the external rim of the cup 0, against which rests and issupported the elevated ridge A of the rubber. As thussupported, therubber is not drawn into the cup when it is stretched over the breastwhen the cup is in operation. E shows the conductingtube of the cup (3,through which the air is exhausted by pump or bellows.

I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent As a newarticle of manufacture, in combination with the vacuum-cup of theordinary breast-pump, the elastic perforated rubber base, as shown.

ALBERT M. KNAPP.

Witnesses:

ALBERT M. MOORE, ALFRED G. LAMSON.

